Tips for Finding Open Images & Music
Open Music Resources
Some resources for royalty and copyright-free music. Check for license permissions before using.
-
-
Links to an external site.Royalty free music for multimedia projects (check for license limitations)
-
-
-
Links to an external site.Free music to download. Music is licensed under Creative Commons -- be sure to consult the license for each song for the terms of use.
-
Open Image Resources
-
-
Links to an external site.Click on Advanced Search and choose an option under Usage Rights to find images that do not have copyright restrictions.
-
-
-
Links to an external site.Online photo sharing and management site. Check out the license information for each photo to make sure there are no copyright restrictions for using the photo. Use the Advanced Search feature to search the Creative Commons only.
-
-
-
Check the License terms when searching for public domain images.
-
US Government Image Collections
Government materials are in the Public Domain. For public domain images, there is no copyright, no permission required, and no charge for their use. The majority of the images in these collections are in the public domain, but a few include images that may be protected by copyright. In those cases, it will be posted on the website's main page. For those sites it is important to select carefully if you do not want to obtain permissions for use.
-
CDC Public Health Image Library Links to an external site.This image collection contains photographs, illustrations, and multimedia files. There is both a general and an advanced search feature.
-
National Cancer Institute: NCI Visuals Online Links to an external site.The National Cancer Institute provides an extensive image collection. You can browse, search, and temporarily save images. It includes many anatomical images not related specifically to cancer.
-
The Cancer Imaging Archive Links to an external site.A large archive of medical images of cancer accessible for public download from The Frederic National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR). Registering is free. All images are stored in DICOM file format. The images are organized as "Collections", typically patients related by a common disease (e.g. lung cancer), image modality (MRI, CT, etc) or research focus. Some collections in this archive have use restrictions. More information is available on their data usage policies and restrictions Links to an external site. page.
-
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Photos Links to an external site.This photo collection is organized into four categories: Leadership, Key Staff, Clinical and Translational Science, and Pre-Clinical Science. From this page, there is also a link to videos (when you navigate to the video page, there are also audio clips).
-
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) Image Gallery Links to an external site.A small image collection; images are sorted by treatment, category, and whole medical systems.
-
National Eye Institute: NEI Photos and Images Links to an external site.The search feature for this collection allows you to select from eye conditions, anatomy, or diagnostic/treatments. It also links out to NEI YouTube videos and other image resources.
-
Digital Media Database: National Human Genome Research Institute Links to an external site.This large database contains downloadable high-resolution photographs, graphics and video files related to the field of genomic research and the activities of the National Human Genome Research Institute. Images are sorted into the following categories: people, events, lab/technology, plants, animals, microorganisms, graphics, and videos.
-
National Institute on Aging (NIA) Images and Video Links to an external site.NIA's image and video collection includes scientific illustrations and graphic images showing brain function and Alzheimer's disease. Images can be viewed and downloaded in high resolution (suitable for print) and low resolution (suitable for viewing online).
-
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Image Gallery Links to an external site.The NIDCR image gallery consists of images in three categories: Science, Oral Health, and NICDR Staff. It contains both photographs and illustrations.
-
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Image and Video Gallery Links to an external site.A collection of photographs, illustrations and videos. Images are downloadable in small, medium or large format.
-
National Institute of Mental Health: NIMH Image Library Links to an external site.This seems to be a relatively small collection; however, it has a good selection of MRI and brain imagery.
-
NIH Images from the History of Medicine Links to an external site.This database provides access to over 70,000 images in the collections of the History of Medicine Division (HMD) of the U.S National Library of Medicine (NLM). The collection includes portraits, photographs, caricatures, genre scenes, posters, and graphic art illustrating the social and historical aspects of medicine dated from the 15th to 21st century. Some materials may be protected by United States or foreign copyright laws.
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Multimedia Gallery
Links to an external site.
This image collection contains over 3,000 images, videos, audio files, and links to additional audio slideshows, interactive features, screensavers and other content that doesn't neatly fit into the categories of images, video and audio.
- NASA Images
Links to an external site.
NASA's image library consolidates imagery and videos in one searchable location - US Forestry
Links to an external site.
This image database contains historical and modern photographs from collections maintained by the US Forest Service. - Department of Agriculture
Links to an external site.
A complimentary source of high-quality digital photographs available from the Agricultural Research Service Office - Department of Fish & Wildlife
Links to an external site.
A selection of digital images, video, and maps which are the very best visual representation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission.
-
Library of Congress: Government Resources for Science Images and Videos Links to an external site.This website links to many government image collections. Topics include agriculture, astronomy and aeronautics, biology, conservation, earth sciences and geology, energy, engineering, health science and medicine, and the Library's own prints and photographs collection.
-
U.S. Government Photos and Images Links to an external site.This website provides links to many government image collections. Some of the photos are in the public domain or U.S. government works and may be used without permission or fee. However, some images may be protected by license or copyright. You should read the disclaimers on each site before using these images.
-
U.S. Government Flickr Photostream Links to an external site.This website is comprised of official U.S. federal, state, and local government photostreams on Flickr.
Links to image collections in all 50 states.
Open Access Images from Museum Collections
- Getty Open Content Program Links to an external site.
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art Links to an external site.
- National Gallery of Art Links to an external site.
- Walters Museum of Art Links to an external site.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art Links to an external site.
- British Library Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts Links to an external site.
- Rijksmuseum Links to an external site.
- National Gallery of Denmark Links to an external site.
Open Access Images from Library Collections
- Library of Congress Digital Collections Links to an external site.
- Digital Public Library of America Links to an external site.
- HathiTrust Digital Library Links to an external site.
- National Library of the Netherlands Links to an external site.
- Yale University Links to an external site.
- The Wellcome Library Links to an external site.
- San Jose State University World Images Links to an external site. Links to an external site.